H.R. 6682

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6682 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6682

To advance research, promote awareness, and provide patient support 
with respect to endometriosis, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 11, 2025

Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Adams, Mr. 
Cisneros, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Friedman, Mr. Frost, Mr. Goldman 
of New York, Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mrs. McIver, Ms. 
Norton, Mr. Pocan, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Tonko, 
Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Brown, Ms. Lofgren, 
and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To advance research, promote awareness, and provide patient support 
with respect to endometriosis, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Endometriosis Coverage, Awareness, 
Research, and Education Act'' or the ``Endometriosis CARE Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to 
the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause 
severe pain in the pelvis and make it harder to get pregnant. 
Endometriosis often causes severe pain in the pelvis, 
especially during menstrual periods. Some people also have pain 
during sex or when using the bathroom. Some people have trouble 
getting pregnant.
(2) It causes a chronic inflammatory reaction that may 
result in the formation of scar tissue (adhesions, fibrosis) 
within the pelvis and other parts of the body. The cause of 
endometriosis is unknown. There is no known way to prevent 
endometriosis. There is no cure, but its symptoms can be 
treated with medicines or, in some cases, surgery.

SEC. 3. ENDOMETRIOSIS COVERAGE, AWARENESS, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION.

Part F of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 287d 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 486C. ENDOMETRIOSIS COVERAGE, AWARENESS, RESEARCH, AND 
EDUCATION.

``(a) Advancing Endometriosis Data Collection, Surveillance, and 
Research.--
``(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall conduct or 
support data collection, surveillance, and research related to 
endometriosis.
``(2) Use of funds.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Director may--
``(A) conduct or support research and related 
activities regarding endometriosis, including research 
to improve treatment options and develop a cure for 
endometriosis;
``(B) establish or expand an internet clearinghouse 
to catalog existing endometriosis research, treatment 
options, and related information for patients and 
health care professionals; or
``(C) carry out related activities as determined by 
the Director.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(b) Identifying Barriers to Accessing Treatments for 
Endometriosis Symptoms.--
``(1) Research.--The Secretary shall conduct an analysis of 
barriers that individuals diagnosed with endometriosis face in 
accessing treatments for endometriosis symptoms, including 
transportation barriers and barriers caused by health care 
professional shortages.
``(2) Topics.--In carrying out the analysis under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary may--
``(A) assess data from the Transformed Medicaid 
Statistical Information System related to services 
furnished to individuals diagnosed with endometriosis 
for the treatment of endometriosis symptoms under State 
Medicaid programs under title XIX of the Social 
Security Act and Children's Health Insurance Programs 
under title XXI of such Act; and
``(B) assess data related to services furnished to 
individuals diagnosed with endometriosis for the 
treatment of endometriosis symptoms under group health 
plans or group or individual health insurance coverage 
offered by a health insurance issuer (as those terms 
are defined in section 2791).
``(3) Data collection.--To carry out the analysis under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary may require--
``(A) group health plans or issuers of group or 
individual health insurance coverage to provide such 
information as may be required to assess barriers that 
individuals diagnosed with endometriosis face in 
accessing treatments for endometriosis symptoms, 
including a lack of insurance coverage or cost-sharing 
requirements for such treatments; and
``(B) State Medicaid programs and Children's Health 
Insurance Programs to collect and report data related 
to services furnished to individuals diagnosed with 
endometriosis for the treatment of endometriosis 
symptoms through the Transformed Medicaid Statistical 
Information System, including data stratified by 
relevant demographic characteristics.
``(4) Privacy requirements.--In carrying out the analysis 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that the 
privacy and confidentiality of individual patients are 
protected in a manner consistent with relevant privacy and 
confidentiality laws.
``(5) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress, and make publicly available on the website of the 
Department of Health and Human Services, a report on the 
analysis carried out under this subsection.
``(c) Education and Dissemination of Information With Respect to 
Endometriosis.--
``(1) Endometriosis public education program.--The 
Secretary shall develop, and disseminate to the public, 
information regarding endometriosis, including information on--
``(A) the awareness, incidence, and prevalence of 
endometriosis, with a particular focus on individuals 
from racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in 
section 1707(g)) and other underserved groups;
``(B) culturally and linguistically appropriate 
support that is available to address the mental health 
impacts of endometriosis; and
``(C) the availability, as medically appropriate, 
of the range of treatment options for symptoms of 
endometriosis.
``(2) Dissemination of information.--The Secretary may 
disseminate information under paragraph (1) directly or through 
arrangements with intra-agency initiatives, nonprofit 
organizations, consumer groups, institutions of higher 
education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965), or Federal, State, or local public private 
partnerships.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(d) Information to Health Care Providers With Respect to 
Endometriosis.--
``(1) Dissemination of information.--The Secretary shall, 
in consultation with relevant health care professional 
societies and associations, disseminate information to health 
care professionals, health care-related organizations, and 
health systems to promote evidence-based care for individuals 
with endometriosis, including information related to--
``(A) detecting and diagnosing endometriosis;
``(B) providing care for individuals with 
endometriosis;
``(C) communicating with patients about 
endometriosis; and
``(D) related topics.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
section, there is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(e) Endometriosis Disparities Study Through National Academies.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall seek to enter an 
agreement, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this section, with the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine (referred to in this section as the 
`National Academies') under which the National Academies agree 
to conduct a study on endometriosis disparities.
``(2) Study requirements.--The agreement under paragraph 
(1) shall direct the National Academies to--
``(A) assess endometriosis prevalence, detection, 
treatment, and outcome disparities by race, ethnicity, 
geography, primary language, sexual orientation, gender 
identity, disability status, and insurance status, and 
related topics as determined by the Secretary; and
``(B) make recommendations to the Congress, Federal 
agencies, health care professionals, and other relevant 
stakeholders based on the National Academies' findings 
pursuant to subparagraph (A).
``(3) Report.--The agreement under paragraph (1) shall 
direct the National Academies to complete the study under this 
section, and transmit to the Congress and make publicly 
available a report on the results of the study, not later than 
24 months after the date of enactment of this section.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $500,000.''.
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